Downingtown and Chester Springs Hung Gar Kung Fu Classes

Beginner Hung Gar Kung Fu Classes Enrolling In June

There are many aspects to our program. The below lists the core program forms, techniques, philosophy and fundamentals taught.

To better understand time frame and `level`, the program is split into three divisions: beginner, intermediate and advanced. Achievement of black sash may granted after the student has mastered these elements and has passed a grading test.

Our program is designed to train the individual in 4 foundations: speed/agility, power (hard), soft (internal) and open palm / grabbing. Beginner sets prepare the practitioner for the more difficult sets. Combining the 4 foundations is the aim of the student and is a life long journey to develop one's own way.

The Hung Ga curriculum of Wong Fei-Hung

The Hung Ga curriculum that Wong Fei-Hung learned from his father comprised Single Hard Fist, Double Hard Fist, Taming the Tiger Fist (伏虎拳), Mother & Son Butterfly Swords (子母雙刀), Angry Tiger Fist, Fifth Brother Eight Trigram Pole (五郎八卦棍), Flying Hook, and Black Tiger Fist (黑虎拳). Wong distilled his father's empty-hand material along with the material he learned from other masters into the "pillars" of Hung Ga, four empty-hand routines that constitute the core of Hung Ga instruction in the Wong Fei-Hung lineage: Taming the Tiger Fist, Tiger Crane Paired Form Fist, Five Animal Fist, and Iron Wire Fist. Each of those routines is described in the sections below.

"工" Taming the Tiger Fist 工字伏虎拳

The long routine Taming the Tiger trains the student in the basic techniques of Hung Ga while building endurance. It is said to go at least as far back as Jee Sin, who is said to have taught Taming the Tiger—or at least an early version of it—to both Hung Hei-Gun and Luk Ah-Choi.

The "工" Character Taming the Tiger Fist is so called because its footwork traces a path resembling the character "工".

Tiger Crane Paired Form Fist 虎鶴雙形拳

Tiger Crane builds on Taming the Tiger, adding "vocabulary" to the Hung Ga practitioner's repertoire. Wong Fei-Hung choreographed the version of Tiger Crane handed down in the lineages that descend from him. He is said to have added to Tiger Crane the bridge hand techniques and rooting of the master Tit Kiu Saam as well as long arm techniques, attributed variously to the Fat Ga, Lo Hon, and Lama styles. Tiger Crane Paired Form routines from outside Wong Fei-Hung Hung Ga still exist.

Five Animal Fist 五形拳/Five Animal Five Element Fist 五形五行拳

These routines serve as a bridge between the external force of Tiger Crane and the internal focus of Iron Wire. "Five Animals" (literally "Five Forms") refers to the characteristic Five Animals of the Southern Chinese martial arts: Dragon, Snake, Tiger, Leopard, and Crane. "Five Elements" refers to the five classical Chinese elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, and Wood. The Hung Ga Five Animal Fist was choreographed by Wong Fei Hung and expanded by Lam Sai Wing (林世榮), a senior student and teaching assistant of Wong Fei Hung, into the Five Animal Five Element Fist (also called the "Ten Form Fist"). In the Lam Sai Wing branch of Hung Ga, the Five Animal Five Element Fist has largely, but not entirely, superseded the Five Animal Fist, which has become associated with Dang Fong and others who were no longer students when the Five Animal Five Element Fist was created.

Iron Wire Fist 鐵線拳

Iron Wire builds internal power and is attributed to the martial arts master Leung Kwan (Chinese: 梁坤; pinyin: Liáng Kūn; 1815–1887), better known as Tit Kiuh Saam (Chinese: 鐵橋三; pinyin: tiěqiáosān). Like Wong Fei Hung's father Wong Kei-Ying, Tit Sin Saam was one of the Ten Tigers of Canton. As a teenager, Wong Fei Hung learned Iron Wire from Lam Fuk-Sing (Chinese: 林福成; pinyin: Línfúchéng) a student of Tit Sin Saam. The Iron Wire form is essentially a combination of Hei Gung (Chinese: 气功; pinyin: qigong) or meditative breathing with isometric exercise, particularly dynamic tension, although weights were also used in traditional practice in the form of iron rings worn on the wrists. If properly practiced, it can increase strength considerably and promote a stable root. However as with both most forms of qigong and most forms of isometric exercise, it must be practiced regularly or the benefits are quickly lost.

Wong Fei Hung was known for his Fifth Brother Eight Trigram Pole (五郎八卦棍), which can be found in the curricula of both the Lam Sai Wing and Dang Fong branches of Hung Ga, two of the major branches of the Wong Fei-Hung lineage, as can the Spring & Autumn Guandao (春秋大刀), and the Yu Family Tiger Fork (瑤家大扒). Both branches also train the broadsword (刀), the butterfly swords (雙刀), the spear (槍), and even the fan (扇), but use different routines to do so. Mother & Son Butterfly Swords (子母雙刀) can still be found in the curriculum of the Dang Fong branch.

World Martial Arts Academy

Rick T.

Finding World Martial Arts has been like finding the acres of diamonds under our feet.

The atmosphere and training makes it a very special place. Master Kofroth and the other instructors are able to translate their appreciable knowledge of martial arts to the students as individuals. They know the skills and limitations of the individual students, and they work with students as individuals to advance their skills given their individual situations. Master Kofroth’s ability to remember days later which part of a particular technique I may be having trouble with combined with his ability to provide a correction to the technique or a drill to improve the skill is most impressive.

I started training three years ago because of my kids: I continue training for me.

After all, diamonds are worth hanging onto.

Diane

I don't know where I would be without my training with Master Kofroth. In the past 3 1/2 years, my fitness has improved dramatically. I am now 60 years old and have increased strength, flexibility, coordination, balance, endurance, and I know how to defend myself. I am a former teacher and school principal, and I recognize that Master Kofroth is a very talented teacher. I have had to work very hard for ever belt level I have achieved, making each level I have reached that much more valuable. I highly recommend World Martial Arts Academy for anyone of any age.

Bill

Our son is a student at World Martial Arts Academy. He is small for his age (one of the smallest in his Martial Arts class), and we want him to be self-confident and capable. With each class he learns more and performs better, and he remains excited to continue with Martial Arts. Master Kofroth is impressive on many levels. Not only does he call every student by name, but he also pays close attention to every student’s progress – encouraging them and showing them how to do it right. Master Kofroth does not play favorites. Every student must earn their advancement, and he inspires each of them to do their best, and to try their hardest. In addition to Master Kofroth’s own impressive Martial Arts achievements, another accomplishment is his ability to take a class full of rambunctious 5 and 6 year-old kids, and make them focus – paying strict attention to his teachings. Our daughter insists on watching her brother’s classes each week, and we can’t wait for her to join as soon as she’s old enough. World Martial Arts Academy has been a terrific investment.